Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport said it had been experiencing longer processing times at passport control on Friday, affecting both arriving and departing passengers.
In light of this, international travellers have been advised to arrive at least three hours before departure to allow sufficient time for all airport formalities.
Although the airport announced on its social media platforms that regular updates would be shared as the situation improves, delays such as these are not new and continue to hamper South Africa’s G20 presidency, which places the country in the global spotlight and raises expectations for logistical and diplomatic competence.
Reuters reported on 1 August that an air traffic control system failure at O.R. Tambo had disrupted operations. At the time, state-owned company Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) said in a statement that the system failure had affected the flight plan management system and was expected to cause departure delays.
The latest delays announced on Friday underscore earlier warnings by FlySafair, which advised passengers of delays at both O.R. Tambo and King Shaka International (Durban) airports a week ago due to air traffic control issues.
According to an IOL report earlier this month, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) advised that queries related to flights and passengers be directed to the airlines concerned.
IOL reported that when asked for comment, FlySafair said the delays were due to ATNS constraints relating to wider air traffic flow management measures implemented by ATNS to regulate congestion and ensure safe operations at airports.
However, the airline stated that the delays were not isolated to FlySafair and were affecting all carriers.
A warning of delays was also issued by FlySafair for passengers travelling from Cape Town to Namibia two weeks ago.
These persistent delays continue to raise red flags about South Africa’s ability to host high-level G20 events. Officials warn that delays to diplomats, heads of state and global media could affect perceptions of organisational competence and logistical capacity.
To mitigate the impact, authorities are said to be fast-tracking system repairs and considering priority processing lanes for G20 delegates. Coordination among aviation authorities, airport management and event organisers is expected to be intensified.
In light of this, international travellers have been advised to arrive at least three hours before departure to allow sufficient time for all airport formalities.
Although the airport announced on its social media platforms that regular updates would be shared as the situation improves, delays such as these are not new and continue to hamper South Africa’s G20 presidency, which places the country in the global spotlight and raises expectations for logistical and diplomatic competence.
Reuters reported on 1 August that an air traffic control system failure at O.R. Tambo had disrupted operations. At the time, state-owned company Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) said in a statement that the system failure had affected the flight plan management system and was expected to cause departure delays.
The latest delays announced on Friday underscore earlier warnings by FlySafair, which advised passengers of delays at both O.R. Tambo and King Shaka International (Durban) airports a week ago due to air traffic control issues.
According to an IOL report earlier this month, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) advised that queries related to flights and passengers be directed to the airlines concerned.
IOL reported that when asked for comment, FlySafair said the delays were due to ATNS constraints relating to wider air traffic flow management measures implemented by ATNS to regulate congestion and ensure safe operations at airports.
However, the airline stated that the delays were not isolated to FlySafair and were affecting all carriers.
A warning of delays was also issued by FlySafair for passengers travelling from Cape Town to Namibia two weeks ago.
These persistent delays continue to raise red flags about South Africa’s ability to host high-level G20 events. Officials warn that delays to diplomats, heads of state and global media could affect perceptions of organisational competence and logistical capacity.
To mitigate the impact, authorities are said to be fast-tracking system repairs and considering priority processing lanes for G20 delegates. Coordination among aviation authorities, airport management and event organisers is expected to be intensified.
